Patrick Mahomes explains shocked reaction to Mavericks’ Luka Doncic trade

The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers stunned the sporting world — including Patrick Mahomes.

Even as he prepared for Super Bowl 59, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback — and avowed Mavericks fan — had an incredulous reaction to the stunning deal that materialized over the weekend. His first post on X was simply ‘Wait what?’ Followed by ‘I’m sick rn….’

With more time to process the deal and his feelings, Mahomes still said the trade stung a bit.

‘It’s tough, you know, because I’ve watched (Doncic) since he was 18 years old,’ Mahomes said at Super Bowl Opening Night in New Orleans on Monday. ‘I remember going to a practice and it was Dirk (Nowitzki) and Luka, and seeing his maturation and how great of a basketball he has became (sic), it’s been fun to watch.

‘As a Dallas fan, it hurts me. But I’m happy for him that he’s going to be able to go out there and be in LA and try to achieve his dream of winning a championship. He did so much, not only for the basketball team but for the city of Dallas, so I’ll always be appreciative of those years. But I’m excited for the Mavericks moving forward and the guys they brought in.’

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Mahomes wasn’t the only marquee player in the Super Bowl to be stunned by the move, which sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks.

‘I kinda was shocked by that too,’ Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley said. ‘I think everybody in the sports world was shocked by that. But sports is a crazy business, and I think Luka and AD are gonna make the most of it.’

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